Bryce Molder & Paul VillardGEO Morphix Ltd.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a Tool forMonitoring and EvaluatingNatural Channel Designs
TRIECA ConferenceMarch 20-21, 2019
Pearson Convention Centre, Toronto
1. Background
2. UAV Applications
3. Limitations
4. Conclusions
ESC monitoringMonitoring NCD’sTopographical surveysSpecialized applications
Vegetation / WaterWeather
SummaryNext stepsFlying requirements
UAVHow it functions
OUTLINE
BACKGROUND
• DJI Phantom Vision 2+• DJI Phantom 4 Pro• HD Playback• Flight Time: 15 mins• Flight Speed: < 10 m/s
HOW IT FUNCTIONS
• Photogrammetry• Generate 3D models from 2D photos
taken at different angles• Processing Softwares
• Pix 4D• PrecisionMapper
BACKGROUND
• PIX4D screenshot
BACKGROUNDHOW IT FUNCTIONS
BACKGROUNDHOW IT FUNCTIONS
1000 m of channel
UAV APPLICATIONS
UAV APPLICATIONSESC MONITORING
Easy Identification of…
325 m
UAV APPLICATIONSESC Monitoring
Aerial Perspective
UAV APPLICATIONSESC MONITORING
Ground Perspective
UAV APPLICATIONS
MONITORING NCD’s
UAV APPLICATIONS
MONITORING NCD’s
UAV APPLICATIONS
MONITORING NCD’s
UAV APPLICATIONS
MONITORING NCD’s
• Informing ESC plans• As-builts• Geomorphological monitoring (e.g., erosion)
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
• Photo resolution• Ground Sampling Distance <-> Altitude (20 – 50 m)• Use and distribution of Ground Control Points
(surveyed with RTK)
Accuracy
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
19
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
RMS = 0.11Mean = 0.09
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
Max = 0.14Min = 0.004RMS = 0.07
Mean = 0.06
UAV APPLICATIONS
SURVEYS
UAV APPLICATIONS
OTHER APPLICATIONS
• Stockpile / Volume estimation• Material availability
UAV APPLICATIONS
OTHER APPLICATIONS
• Stockpile / Volume estimation• Vegetation I.D. (multispectral camera)• Groundwater inputs (thermal infrared camera)
LIMITATIONS
• Weather (wind, rain)• Vegetation cover and water surface (Supplement
survey with RTK, LiDAR)• Range of operation (flight time, communication
distance)• Low precision without GCPs• Flying requirements (e.g., permits, privacy etc.)
CONCLUSIONS• Affordable• Efficient (rapid surveys with good coverage)• Birds-eye perspective facilitates review of corridor
conditions / ESC• Steep slopes
NEXT STEPS• Compare Photogrammetry software• Develop UAV inspection / survey standards
FLYING REQUIREMENTS
• SFOC Special Flight Operations Certificate
• Flight Training• 100 ft distance to people,
buildings, etc.• Flight Log• Contact Air Control Centres
in case of emergency• Blowhorn, fire extinguisher
THANK YOU